The Eyes of Texas

The Eyes of Texas examines such topics as unique Texas residents and out-of-the-way attractions. It remains the longest-running local program in the history of the Houston television market. In addition to his anthology, Miller was the news director at both KPRC radio and television for more than four decades.The Eyes of Texas has been loosely compared to the long-running syndicated program, Texas Country Reporter, hosted from Dallas by Bob Phillips.
On his retirement from television, Miller was a tour guide in Houston. He also wrote ten books, Eyes of Texas travel guides and other works on forts and parks in Houston and nearby Galveston. One of his best known books is Ray Miller's Houston, published in 1992.

Miller joined the staff of Harris County Precinct 3 County Commissioner Steve Radack, a Republican, who described Miller as "so compassionate, loyal, had an incredible ability to give people inspiration to live." Radack appointed Miller to head special projects, many of which served senior citizens. Miller was still skiing well into his eighties, Radack said.

In 1979, Miller retired as Channel 2 news director, but he continued to work as the host of another series Ray Miller's Texas until the late 1980s. In 1999, veteran journalist Ron Stone succeeded Miller as host of The Eyes of Texas. Stone died some five months before Miller. Ray Miller also worked with the Harris County Historical Commission to procure historical markers for several sites. Miller donated his extensive book collection to Harris County.

Mentoring other journalists

In 1976, Miller hired then 25-year-old Phil Archer as a KPRC reporter. Archer recalls that Miller had "incredible intellect, practically glowed in the dark. . . . To be hired by Ray Miller was like winning the lottery. He was just the best." Archer noted too that Miller viewed journalism as a higher calling and as a public service, Archer said. Baseball announcer Mike Capps said that Miller was "the epitome of a hard-line newsman. He was spit, polish and shine."
During his storied career, Miller served as a mentor to hundreds of journalists, including former CBSanchormanDan Rather and United States SenatorKay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas Republican who was the first female television newswoman in Texas. Rather said that Miller was "so honest that you could shoot dice with him over the phone." In a prepared statement, Hutchison said that Miller "gave me my first job, taking a chance on a new law school graduate who had never had a class in journalism. I learned more from him than I could have ever imagined possible. He impacted me in many ways: to strive for excellence, to be the very best, never take 'no' for an answer."

Houston newsman Dave Ward recalls Miller as "a true professional. He wasn't an easy man to work for. He demanded excellence. . . . He usually got his way. He was a great news director in television. The Houston market was very lucky to have him.